Thanks to those books, I realized the problem wasn’t me, but the genre. I just don’t click with horror. I discovered that I love fantasy novels—unlike Steven and Aurora, who prefer horror and romance.
I don’t always manage to read, though. I’m so distracted that I forget to sit down and open a new book, even though messy towers of them are stacked in my room.
Right now, I’m counting the days until December, when the next installment of the saga I’m reading with Aunt Evelyn comes out. It’s calledShadowhunters, and I can’t wait to finish Emma and Julian’s story. I’m still devastated by the ending of the second book, and I hope the third one will heal me.
I even tried to get Steven to start the series, but he got stuck halfway throughCity of Ashes. Apparently, that’s pretty common—I read that online—but I still hope I can convince him to keep going. I’d love to discuss it with him, because Steven’s so smart that whenever you’re with him, you learn something new.
When he talks about the things he loves, his eyes light up, and his observations are never obvious. He always has a sharp, witty take that leaves me speechless. He’s also constantly recommending me anime based on my tastes and has started lending me his manga, since I can read them faster without getting distracted.
Now, Steven’s sitting next to me with his head bent over his phone, watching an episode ofOne Piece, while I balance a bouquet of daisies on my skirt and lick a lemon popsicle as we wait for the Coopers to arrive.
Asher and Grandma are in the backyard, coloring together. My little brother’s six now. He’s about to start his second year of kindergarten in mid-August, and he can’t wait for art class.
He has so much fun drawing and coloring and he always comes running to me with another drawing, beaming when I tell him it’s the best I’ve ever seen before hanging it on my closet door next to the Seth Cohen poster. I adore him.
Our mother’s sleeping in her room, and I just hope she doesn’t come out when Vincent arrives. I don’t want her to glare at him with that usual contempt. I want to be with my best friend without fear of her ruining our moment—or worse, lashing out at Asher.
I sigh. “How much longer?”
“He said ten minutes less than five minutes ago,” Steven replies, not even looking up.
“So how much longer?”
“I don’t know, Nova! Count to three hundred and sixty and you’ll see they’ll be here.”
“Why three hundred and sixty?” I lean over, trying to peek at his phone, but he pulls it away with an eye roll.
After a few more minutes of restless silence, I murmur, “So... How much longer?”
Steven snaps his phone shut and turns to me, clearly irritated. “Nova!”
I lift my hands in surrender but soften it with the most pitiful puppy eyes I can manage. He lets out a laugh despite himself.
Rolling his eyes, he gets up from the steps and starts pacing the garden. “I swear I don’t know how much longer, or Iwould’ve told you already just to shut your mouth! Why don’t you start counting to three hundred and sixty?”
“But why exactly three hundred and sixty?”
He runs a hand through his blond hair, exasperated. “I don’t know! Just count already and quit being a pain in the ass. You sound like a broken record.”
Feigning offense, I place a hand dramatically on my chest. “For your inf—”
I don’t get to finish, because a red car pulls into the Coopers’ driveway. I know that car.
I shoot to my feet so fast the daisies tumble from my skirt.
“They’re here!” I shout, sprinting across the street.
Daniel comes out of the house, grinning ear to ear as Chris opens the passenger door. The two husbands embrace, both glowing with joy. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who missed them.
From the driver’s side emerges Evelyn. The moment she spots me, she beams. Of course she came—I’d know this car anywhere.
When we were thirteen, Vincent’s aunt drove us all the way to Miami Beach just because we wanted to learn how to surf. We stayed in sketchy motels, slept in the car and under the stars, and sampled every kind of food along the way. Evelyn’s a force of nature and I hope I’ll be like her one day.
She rounds the car and pulls me into a tight hug. “Supernova! You’re radiant. My goodness—you’re practically a woman already. I bet you’ve got a whole line of boys and girls falling at your feet.”
“A beautiful woman, I might add,” Chris says with a smile and Daniel nods.
“I agree.” At the sound of his voice, I turn.
